Our south-paw shooters often complain that nice “previously owned” benchrest rifles are hard to find. We’ll we spotted a beauty on Gunbroker.com, Auction #128642607. It sports a Nesika Model J Left-Bolt, Left-port action in a gorgeous, laminated red cedar stock with hardwood fore-end tip and polished aluminum buttplate. We believe this rifle was built by Richard Franklin of Richards Custom Rifles, a well-known accuracy smith, and the rifle looks to be pillar-bedded. The barrel is a LV-contour, 22″ Krieger, 1:14″ twist, chambered in 6 PPC with a .261″ neck. Total weight is 10.4 lbs. with a Leupold scope so you can shoot it in either Light Varmint or Heavy Varmint class. This 6PPC has seen very little use and appears flawless in the photos. The seller claims the rifle has been “test-fired only” and that the bore is pristine.

Auction starting price is $1699.00 with no reserve. The auction closes on Sunday, May 17 at 11:39 am Eastern Time. So far, this gun has been “off the radar” so there has been just one bid. But hopefully one of our southpaw shooters will pick up a beautiful rifle for easily $1300.00 less than it cost new. (Note: Scope is NOT included in auction.) Yes we know a fiberglass-stocked gun would probably shoot as well… but that wood is a feast for the eyes.

Cabela’s has commenced a Memorial Day Sale that runs through May 25, 2009. Selected products are up to 50% off and sale prices are in effect right now. There are some real bargains to be had. Here are some good deals we found. To get these Memorial Day Sale prices, CLICK THIS LINK.

You probably already know that Leica’s CRF 1200 is a top-of-the-line laser rangefinder, rivaled only by the $999.00 Swarovski LaserGuide and, maybe, by the new $699.00 Zeiss Victory PRF. Among these three units, the Leica is the most compact by far. And, now, it is the least expensive. NOTE: You can also buy the Leica CRF 1200 from Amazon.com for $599.00 with FREE Shipping by clicking the special link below:

When we first saw this product we thought: “Great idea… it’s amazing nobody else has offered a covered loading tray before”. Being able to cover your loading tray makes sense. With the cover in place, you can’t inadvertantly drop something into the tray, or knock over cases filled with powder. You can also keep loaded rounds protected from the elements before they’re packed into ammo carriers.

We really like this little knife. Folded it is tiny, and weighs just 1 ounce! The 1.25″ blade is long enough to handle most typical cutting chores (opening box-tops, cutting tape, trimming cords). It even comes with a bottle opener and a sturdy lanyard attachment.

Garand Matches are among the most popular of CMP events, and the M1 Garand, acquired direct from the CMP, still represents a great value among collectible, military-style firearms. Recognizing the demand for accurate, yet affordable ammunition for M1 Garands and M1As(civilian version of m14), Federal® has introduced new American Eagle ammo expressly designed for these popular classes of rifles. M1 Garand and M1A shooters now have a quality yet economical ammo option, which reduced risk of slam-fires.

Special Loads for Special Rifles
The M1A and M1 Garand are storied rifles with a huge following. Unfortunately, much of the hunting ammunition today isn’t suitable for these special rifles. “We know there is a very large number of shooters who use the M1A and M1 Garand rifles at the range,” said Kyle Tengwall, Federal’s director of marketing. “Whether it’s practicing for a competition, or just spending some time at the range, these shooters need affordable loads that perform well. These new loads cater to this special segment of shooters, and we’re proud to offer them something that shoots great and is available at price that can’t be beat.”

These special loads use staked primers to reduce the risk of firearm malfunction, including slamfires. The M1 Garand load features a 150-gr FMJ bullet and a carefully selected propellant that produces pressures that match the gas system design. The M1A load utilizes a 168-grain Open Tip Match (OTM) bullet that gives match-grade accuracy at an unbeatable price.